Comments for Renee Swope http://reneeswope.com Leading Women to Live Confidently in Christ Thu, 17 May 2012 11:22:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by Jessica H. http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36237 Jessica H. Thu, 17 May 2012 11:22:17 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36237 This is my first Bible/book study and I haven't commented much on these blog posts, but chapter 4 gave me that extra "oomph" I needed to "right a wrong" with someone from my past from about 12 years ago. I was the one that needed forgiveness - forgiveness from her, from God, from myself. Without going into full detail, I did/said something to... let's just call her "K"... that was/is completely out of my character. I hadn't spoken to "K" since "that night" 12 years ago, but this past Tuesday I told her I was sorry, truly sorry, for what I did. I think she was pretty shocked (and so was I)! She acknowledged that it was a long time ago, that my apology meant a lot to her and that it took courage for me to apologize. She accepted my apology! "K" and I are not all of a sudden instant best friends and I may not even ever speak to her again, but I don't think I would've had the courage to confront my shame and embarrassment before reading this chapter (or this book) - my heart is a little more free and on it's way to being confident! Apologizing to "K" is just a baby step, but it's a step. I'm in my twenties and still trying to figure out what God's plan is for me? All I want is for Him to use simple me - however, whatever, whenever, wherever that may be! Jeremiah 29:11-13 gives me comfort! I, too, grew up without a dad - wouldn't know him if I passed him on the street. I still have WAY bigger issues to deal with (y'all are so BRAVE! I haven't had the courage to share anything from my past except what I just typed) and my journey of asking for forgiveness, forgiving those that have hurt me and finding the strength to forgive myself is far from over, but I am no longer afraid of my future or of my past because "God promises hope for my future despite the pain of my past!" A quote I recently came across: "Down on my knees that's where I learned to stand, Lord, I can't even walk without you holding my hand!" Thanks Renee! This is my first Bible/book study and I haven’t commented much on these blog posts, but chapter 4 gave me that extra “oomph” I needed to “right a wrong” with someone from my past from about 12 years ago.

I was the one that needed forgiveness – forgiveness from her, from God, from myself.

Without going into full detail, I did/said something to… let’s just call her “K”… that was/is completely out of my character. I hadn’t spoken to “K” since “that night” 12 years ago, but this past Tuesday I told her I was sorry, truly sorry, for what I did. I think she was pretty shocked (and so was I)! She acknowledged that it was a long time ago, that my apology meant a lot to her and that it took courage for me to apologize.

She accepted my apology!

“K” and I are not all of a sudden instant best friends and I may not even ever speak to her again, but I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to confront my shame and embarrassment before reading this chapter (or this book) – my heart is a little more free and on it’s way to being confident!

Apologizing to “K” is just a baby step, but it’s a step.

I’m in my twenties and still trying to figure out what God’s plan is for me? All I want is for Him to use simple me – however, whatever, whenever, wherever that may be! Jeremiah 29:11-13 gives me comfort!

I, too, grew up without a dad – wouldn’t know him if I passed him on the street. I still have WAY bigger issues to deal with (y’all are so BRAVE! I haven’t had the courage to share anything from my past except what I just typed) and my journey of asking for forgiveness, forgiving those that have hurt me and finding the strength to forgive myself is far from over, but I am no longer afraid of my future or of my past because “God promises hope for my future despite the pain of my past!”

A quote I recently came across:
“Down on my knees that’s where I learned to stand, Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand!”

Thanks Renee!

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by Dodi http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36236 Dodi Thu, 17 May 2012 11:19:07 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36236 God woke me with a revelation of an event from my past that I always knew and have shared, but today, he showed me how that has impacted my life and I am so very grateful. There is always more healing and deeper layers of it. May God bless each one of us who is reading this book. God woke me with a revelation of an event from my past that I always knew and have shared, but today, he showed me how that has impacted my life and I am so very grateful. There is always more healing and deeper layers of it. May God bless each one of us who is reading this book.

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by August Rose http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36235 August Rose Thu, 17 May 2012 08:42:11 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36235 Aly, I married to get away from an abusive relationship with my high school sweet heart. I wanted out of my hometown and I chose the fastest way out. It wasnt the right thing to do but fear can motivate us when we dont trust God. Something I had to come to grips with and be honest with God and myself about. Aly trust God to keep you safe. Read and meditate on Psalms 91:. God keeps me everytime I go back to my home town. I havent seen the high school sweet heart in over 20 years. When I am on the plane I pray and I rest in God. I pray God's will for your marriage, that your husband will hear from God in Afganistan be obeident as well as be protected over there and that no danger will come nigh you or your husband. God heals and restores allow Him to restore you that is the best gift we can give our families. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. August Rose Aly,
I married to get away from an abusive relationship with my high school sweet heart. I wanted out of my hometown and I chose the fastest way out. It wasnt the right thing to do but fear can motivate us when we dont trust God. Something I had to come to grips with and be honest with God and myself about. Aly trust God to keep you safe. Read and meditate on Psalms 91:. God keeps me everytime I go back to my home town. I havent seen the high school sweet heart in over 20 years. When I am on the plane I pray and I rest in God. I pray God’s will for your marriage, that your husband will hear from God in Afganistan be obeident as well as be protected over there and that no danger will come nigh you or your husband. God heals and restores allow Him to restore you that is the best gift we can give our families. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. August Rose

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by August Rose http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36233 August Rose Thu, 17 May 2012 08:30:50 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36233 One more thing Renee, I too like many of the women have been awaken by God at 3 or 4 am and was prompted/led to open your book. God is truly amazing and I pray that I can help bring healing to hurting men and women. One more thing Renee, I too like many of the women have been awaken by God at 3 or 4 am and was prompted/led to open your book. God is truly amazing and I pray that I can help bring healing to hurting men and women.

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by August Rose http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36232 August Rose Thu, 17 May 2012 08:28:47 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36232 Renee, Good morning! I started reading Chapter 4 and things started coming to me from my past and I closed myself off. Thankfully God started showing me what was happening to me. I called my Christian counselor and she along with the Holy Spirit helped me process that God was healing me and trying to get me to a place of heart knowledge instead of just head knowledge. Also, I realzed that knowing the truth and appropriating it correctly is not always easy. However, with God All things are possible to she that believes! I had to keep telling myself I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me. I am so thankful to God and you for your ministry. Keep bringing healing to hurting women Renee. Keep teaching us how to forgive, how to let go and how to trust God confidantly. We need you and I love you for your honesty and your maskless life! Renee,
Good morning! I started reading Chapter 4 and things started coming to me from my past and I closed myself off. Thankfully God started showing me what was happening to me. I called my Christian counselor and she along with the Holy Spirit helped me process that God was healing me and trying to get me to a place of heart knowledge instead of just head knowledge. Also, I realzed that knowing the truth and appropriating it correctly is not always easy. However, with God All things are possible to she that believes! I had to keep telling myself I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me. I am so thankful to God and you for your ministry. Keep bringing healing to hurting women Renee. Keep teaching us how to forgive, how to let go and how to trust God confidantly. We need you and I love you for your honesty and your maskless life!

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by August Rose http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36231 August Rose Thu, 17 May 2012 08:23:40 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36231 Bonnie, I am praying for you and your daughter. God, bless Bonnie and her beautiful child, heal, make whole, set free and God change or remove her ex-husband in Jesus Mighty Name Amen. August Rose Bonnie,
I am praying for you and your daughter. God, bless Bonnie and her beautiful child, heal, make whole, set free and God change or remove her ex-husband in Jesus Mighty Name Amen. August Rose

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by Aly http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36230 Aly Thu, 17 May 2012 08:16:01 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36230 I woke up at 4am with a heavy heart to watch your video and I thank you for sharing I cried through the whole thing. I am holding my family back, and I'm afraid it might be to late for me to keep my family together my husband abandoned us and the killer is he's in afganistan so I can't talk to him but I have learned that it doesn't matter cause I must get right with God again and his plan and I must accept that no matter how many tears he must wipe. This is a hard one for me but just what I needed. I'm so afraid to leave my home because of an ex domestic abuser and God doesn't want me to be in fear he wants me to trust he has me and he wants all of me. I hoped that makes sense a lot of abandonment issues obviously. Thanks for your guidance. I woke up at 4am with a heavy heart to watch your video and I thank you for sharing I cried through the whole thing. I am holding my family back, and I’m afraid it might be to late for me to keep my family together my husband abandoned us and the killer is he’s in afganistan so I can’t talk to him but I have learned that it doesn’t matter cause I must get right with God again and his plan and I must accept that no matter how many tears he must wipe. This is a hard one for me but just what I needed. I’m so afraid to leave my home because of an ex domestic abuser and God doesn’t want me to be in fear he wants me to trust he has me and he wants all of me. I hoped that makes sense a lot of abandonment issues obviously. Thanks for your guidance.

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by jules http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36228 jules Thu, 17 May 2012 06:15:11 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36228 I agree with you today... I've always struggled with past failures and issues that I probably should have done differently and perhaps the outcome would have been different... It's very hard to bring them to surface because you think you have forgotten them or you are over them and the pain of re-living the whole thing again just terrifies me... Recently I had to deal with a comeback dealing of anxiety attacks... I battled anxiety for a few months and God healed me of this... I will forever be grateful but recently I started to feel the onset of anxiety and it freaked me out... all of sudden I started to doubt that perhaps God didn't heal me and I was struggling again.... After praying and bringing this whole thing again before the feet of Jesus He once again reassured me of His love and the peace of mind that calms my anxious heart.... It's a healing rain that showers me and lets me know.... no matter what I have in the past... I can confront it I can face it and with Christ there is really nothing I can't overcome.... Thanks for the sweet reminder.... Bless you!! I agree with you today… I’ve always struggled with past failures and issues that I probably should have done differently and perhaps the outcome would have been different… It’s very hard to bring them to surface because you think you have forgotten them or you are over them and the pain of re-living the whole thing again just terrifies me… Recently I had to deal with a comeback dealing of anxiety attacks… I battled anxiety for a few months and God healed me of this… I will forever be grateful but recently I started to feel the onset of anxiety and it freaked me out… all of sudden I started to doubt that perhaps God didn’t heal me and I was struggling again…. After praying and bringing this whole thing again before the feet of Jesus He once again reassured me of His love and the peace of mind that calms my anxious heart…. It’s a healing rain that showers me and lets me know…. no matter what I have in the past… I can confront it I can face it and with Christ there is really nothing I can’t overcome…. Thanks for the sweet reminder…. Bless you!!

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by Bonnie Falkowski http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36226 Bonnie Falkowski Thu, 17 May 2012 05:14:59 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36226 Dear Renee, I just discovered this site today, and have truly been blessed! I read the Proverbs 31 every day but have not really had the time to go elsewhere when it directs. Today God led me to your site where you are going through your book "A Confident Heart" and it sounded amazing. When I read that you were giving a free copy of your book and CD away I thought I had to at least try to win it as I can tell it definitely a book that could help me immensely. Your video message really blessed and encouraged me, and I am not afraid of looking at the past . . . regardless of the pain it holds, because I know every time I trust God to take me back He heals me a little more each time and takes me from glory to glory. Right now, I am going through a very difficult season in my life as my ex-husband molested my daughter when she was only 3 1/2 . . . she just turned 9 this March. So for the past 6 years I have been fighting to protect my daughter. During this time I have been able to, by the grace of God, maintain full custody without my ex-husband having even a moment of supervised visitation. HOWEVER, I just went through a 2 week Trial in February which was brutal, and at the end of the Trial . . . in spite of the hard evidence and evil that was revealed, the Judged ruled sole physical custody to me and joint legal to both of us with a plan for RE-UNIFICATION!!! Needless to say I have been terrified at the very prospect of that ever happening . . . yet, that is what the State of California's laws state . . . RE-UNIFICATION regardless of what a parent does to their child!!! I really believe God has been calling me to try and change the laws, and I know for the last 6 years He has indeed set precedence in our case . . . and I have to believe He won't stop now . . . even though with my human eyes I can't even imagine how God will be able to rescue and protect us from the evil and corruption of our legal system . . . but as long as I have air in my lungs I will keep fighting to protect my beautiful daughter! It has already cost me well in excess of $150,000.00 to date, while my ex-husband has not paid a single dime because he works for the State of California and has free legal counsel through his work!!! Hence all of this has really been taking it's toll on my precious daughter and me, BUT, I will keep pressing on and TRUSTING the Lord regardless of what it looks like. When I heard your message and it talked about the past, I cringed at first, then I realized that God wants me to do some more work with regards to my past . . . you see, my ex-husband thought if my daughter ever told me what he did to her, that I would be too afraid or ashamed to do anything about it because I had been molested as a child from the age of 4-13, that was when I finally told someone. What my ex-husband did not count on was that my "love" for my daughter far outweighed all the shame and fear of the authorities (who did nothing to protect me or my sisters when we were little). Needless to say, God has been bringing me full-circle for the past 6 years, and I know that His Word promises me that "What the enemy intends for evil HE intends for good!" That is my life verse and I have seen God redeem so many things in my life and turn what the enemy intended for evil into some not only good, but WONDERFUL beyond words . . . like laying my daughter in my arms as a new born (I adopted her from my best friend who had been in a head on car accident and was left with physical disabilities and a brain injury -- her husband was left with the same injuries only from a motorcycle accident -- they met in physical therapy)!! You see this is beyond a miracle because I was never able to have children because of the sexual abuse I endured as a child . . . yet, I know today that God created me for such a time as this . . . to protect my daughter!!! Today I am grateful I worked on my issues when I was younger so I would have the strength I now need to fight to protect my beautiful little girl. But as you know, dealing with, and healing from, our past is a "process" . . . one in which God is perfecting and healing us, until the day He calls us home. As such, I would absolutely love to be the winner of your contest for your book and CD because I really need something right now to help me through this process and cannot really afford it at this juncture in my life as I am and have been buried in legal fees for the last 6 years and do not see an end in sight. So, I will TRUST this into God's hand, and if this is where He wants me to go next, I will follow and obey. Regardless of whether or not I win the contest, I need you to know that I am so grateful to you and your Devotionals on the Proverbs 31 website. God has used you in such powerful ways over the past year since I discovered the Proverbs 31 ministry. Thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to God. I pray that the Lord will continue to Bless You and your ministry. The Daughter of the King, ~ Bonnie ~ Dear Renee,

I just discovered this site today, and have truly been blessed! I read the Proverbs 31 every day but have not really had the time to go elsewhere when it directs. Today God led me to your site where you are going through your book “A Confident Heart” and it sounded amazing. When I read that you were giving a free copy of your book and CD away I thought I had to at least try to win it as I can tell it definitely a book that could help me immensely. Your video message really blessed and encouraged me, and I am not afraid of looking at the past . . . regardless of the pain it holds, because I know every time I trust God to take me back He heals me a little more each time and takes me from glory to glory.

Right now, I am going through a very difficult season in my life as my ex-husband molested my daughter when she was only 3 1/2 . . . she just turned 9 this March. So for the past 6 years I have been fighting to protect my daughter. During this time I have been able to, by the grace of God, maintain full custody without my ex-husband having even a moment of supervised visitation. HOWEVER, I just went through a 2 week Trial in February which was brutal, and at the end of the Trial . . . in spite of the hard evidence and evil that was revealed, the Judged ruled sole physical custody to me and joint legal to both of us with a plan for RE-UNIFICATION!!! Needless to say I have been terrified at the very prospect of that ever happening . . . yet, that is what the State of California’s laws state . . . RE-UNIFICATION regardless of what a parent does to their child!!! I really believe God has been calling me to try and change the laws, and I know for the last 6 years He has indeed set precedence in our case . . . and I have to believe He won’t stop now . . . even though with my human eyes I can’t even imagine how God will be able to rescue and protect us from the evil and corruption of our legal system . . . but as long as I have air in my lungs I will keep fighting to protect my beautiful daughter! It has already cost me well in excess of $150,000.00 to date, while my ex-husband has not paid a single dime because he works for the State of California and has free legal counsel through his work!!! Hence all of this has really been taking it’s toll on my precious daughter and me, BUT, I will keep pressing on and TRUSTING the Lord regardless of what it looks like.

When I heard your message and it talked about the past, I cringed at first, then I realized that God wants me to do some more work with regards to my past . . . you see, my ex-husband thought if my daughter ever told me what he did to her, that I would be too afraid or ashamed to do anything about it because I had been molested as a child from the age of 4-13, that was when I finally told someone. What my ex-husband did not count on was that my “love” for my daughter far outweighed all the shame and fear of the authorities (who did nothing to protect me or my sisters when we were little). Needless to say, God has been bringing me full-circle for the past 6 years, and I know that His Word promises me that “What the enemy intends for evil HE intends for good!” That is my life verse and I have seen God redeem so many things in my life and turn what the enemy intended for evil into some not only good, but WONDERFUL beyond words . . . like laying my daughter in my arms as a new born (I adopted her from my best friend who had been in a head on car accident and was left with physical disabilities and a brain injury — her husband was left with the same injuries only from a motorcycle accident — they met in physical therapy)!! You see this is beyond a miracle because I was never able to have children because of the sexual abuse I endured as a child . . . yet, I know today that God created me for such a time as this . . . to protect my daughter!!! Today I am grateful I worked on my issues when I was younger so I would have the strength I now need to fight to protect my beautiful little girl. But as you know, dealing with, and healing from, our past is a “process” . . . one in which God is perfecting and healing us, until the day He calls us home.

As such, I would absolutely love to be the winner of your contest for your book and CD because I really need something right now to help me through this process and cannot really afford it at this juncture in my life as I am and have been buried in legal fees for the last 6 years and do not see an end in sight. So, I will TRUST this into God’s hand, and if this is where He wants me to go next, I will follow and obey.

Regardless of whether or not I win the contest, I need you to know that I am so grateful to you and your Devotionals on the Proverbs 31 website. God has used you in such powerful ways over the past year since I discovered the Proverbs 31 ministry. Thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to God. I pray that the Lord will continue to Bless You and your ministry.

The Daughter of the King,
~ Bonnie ~

]]> Comment on Courage to Look Back – Hope to Move Forward by Michelle http://reneeswope.com/2012/05/courage-to-hope-again/#comment-36225 Michelle Thu, 17 May 2012 04:28:18 +0000 http://reneeswope.com/?p=2937#comment-36225 Jeremiah 29:11 is posted in my office but honestly, I don't remember reading past verse 11. Thank you for reminding me to read the rest of the chapter and to seek Him for all the answers. Jeremiah 29:11 is posted in my office but honestly, I don’t remember reading past verse 11. Thank you for reminding me to read the rest of the chapter and to seek Him for all the answers.

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